Windows 8.1 will be free through Windows Store

Windows Blue will be dubbed Windows 8.1 and it will be available for free through Microsoft’s Windows Store rather than Windows Updates.

Microsoft finally confirmed the name of the update and distribution method, which seems to indicate that Microsoft is finally starting to get it. Consumers have been spoiled by Android and iOS toys and their seamless and free OTA updates, hence Microsoft’s change of heart is hardly surprising. Of course, some Android fans might say that they haven’t had much luck with updates, but they have only themselves to blame for buying non-Nexus gear.

So what will Windows 8.1 bring to the table? Punters believe desktop mode is coming back and the update should also feature numerous UI tweaks and other improvements. Nothing is official yet and we can only guess, but it seems to be a bit more tablet friendly than Windows 8, while at the same time addressing come concerns raised by desktop traditionalists.

We should know more next month, as Redmond is poised to demonstrate Windows 8.1 on June 26. It is starting to look like Windows 8 done right, but the update probably won’t have much of an effect on PC sales.